Articles by Ana Nita

It’s already dark and the rain is grouchily banging on the windows with cold, restless fingers while the Starbucks I assume more cheerful in the morning staff is moping the floor now, counting the minutes until the closing times. We still have three hours and I reckon that’s plenty of time to get the story out of a very intriguing local leader and community hero, Bobby Wallace on his birth certificate, which also mentions Lakeside as his birthplace.

In the light of the recent development regarding the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts, several official inquiries about the status of a proposed sand mining project in the El Monte Valley brought further reveleations. For those who are not familiar with either subject, here is the context.

A family of bald eagles is back in town again at Lake Jennings, placing Lakeside on the map for many wildlife photographers who are traveling long distances to get a shot and also for tourists who’ve never seen our national bird before. The locals are the most privileged, some being able to admire the eagles from their own patios.

When most of us were still struggling to come up with a resolution for the new year just starting, marine biologist and avid local hiker Jim Carretta was already breezing through on the most difficult hike in the San Diego County – the 12 miles round trip on the El Cajon Mountain, all the way up to the summit.

Dr. Jonathan Q. Richmond, wildlife geneticist with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) led the first ever-comprehensive study on reptiles and amphibians living in the El Monte Valley. The Endangered Habitats League and the El Monte Nature Preserve LLC funded the one-year study by the U.S. Geological Survey. Two entities are currently involved as partners in the sand mining project proposed for the El Monte Valley.

Few birds and a glossy snake may win the battle in the El Monte Valley against a company that seeks to make about $2 billion in profit if its sand mining project gets approved by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

The cat in the painting on the wall is based on a real model, thus is real, it is artist Bob Pinner’s neighbors’ cat, comes visiting twice a day, enough time to give Pinner to sketch it out, pin it down in colors, even talk to her. Pinner believes that “whatever you love is going to come out in the art you make.” Pinner said that if you listen in an active way, you will hear your art talking back at you and unraveling itself where to take you next.

Saturday night, there were no “yeehaw” screams and horseshoes flying on the dusty ground at the Lakeside Rodeo, but one could hear the clink of glasses, the dices at play as chips hit the gambling tables along with the rustling of the long fluffy brocade dresses on the waxed floors. This was the fifth edition of the Wild West Casino Nights organized by the Victorian Roses Ladies Riding Society, a charitable organization that participates in events throughout the year. This fundraiser was to raise money for other local horse rescue groups.

Spring turns these hills mad with enchanting colors and tantalizing perfumes coming from the wild blossoms and especially from the hundreds of Ceanothus trees taking over the north side of the Oak Canyon at the Mission Trails open space preserve. The best time to hike this wondrous path is starting in late fall and up to the end of spring.

On Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside, spreading over 310 acres, lays Louis Stelzer Park, one of the wildest natural preserve areas in the county. The park offers a playground, picnic areas, barbeques and trails for horseback riding and hiking. The settings are right into the heart of the surrounding mountains along Wildcat Canyon, home for the bobcats, coyotes and mountain lions. The park is a heaven for bird watchers and wildlife photographers.